Coalition votes against Taurus delivery to Kiev – Night at a glance
Published: Thursday, Jan 18th 2024, 05:20
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Despite differences of opinion within the coalition government, the parliamentary groups in the Bundestag have almost unanimously opposed the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. A motion by the CDU/CSU parliamentary group explicitly calling on the German government to supply the country attacked by Russia was rejected by a large majority on Wednesday evening. Meanwhile, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi once again warned against a lack of further Western aid for his country. However, the question of future US aid for Ukraine remains open even after a meeting between US President Joe Biden and the leaders of both parties in Congress.
Disagreement in coalition over Taurus deliveries
Green and FDP MPs in the coalition are actually pushing for a Taurus delivery to Ukraine. However, they justified their vote with the fact that the CDU/CSU motion was linked to a plenary debate on the annual report of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces. FDP defence expert Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, for example, criticized in a written statement obtained by Deutsche Presse-Agentur: "It is downright indecent to mix a report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces, which is to be discussed today and relates exclusively to the concerns of Bundeswehr soldiers, with the debate on future support for Ukraine."
The Taurus is one of the air force's most modern missiles and can destroy targets such as a bunker complex from a great height and distance. However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) decided at the beginning of October not to supply this weapon to the Ukraine for the time being. The reason for this was the fear that Russian territory could also be hit due to the range of 500 kilometers. However, there is considerable opposition to the Chancellor's stance from the Greens and FDP.
Selenskyj: Lack of aid for Ukraine means crisis for Europe
Selensky, meanwhile, warned of a further delay in Western aid. "There will be a major crisis for the whole of Europe," he told journalists at the World Economic Forum in Davos (Switzerland). Ukraine will continue to fight - but without aid money, Russia could be in a position to conquer Ukraine. "And as soon as they have conquered us, believe me, it will be a war between NATO and Russia," Selensky explained.
After almost two years of Russia's war of aggression, the granting of billions of euros in new aid to Ukraine by its most important supporter, the USA, is currently stuck due to a domestic political dispute. The EU has also been unable to release a planned Ukraine aid program worth 50 billion euros over the next four years due to a Hungarian veto.
Following a meeting between US President Biden and the leaders of both parties in Congress, the question of future US aid for Ukraine remains open - but the White House is optimistic. Biden is encouraged by the progress made in the negotiations and is aiming for a bipartisan agreement, according to a statement on Wednesday evening (local time). The Republicans have linked the release of further funds for Ukraine to a tightening of asylum policy in the USA.
The White House declared in mid-December that the funds approved to date would be used up by the end of last year. The last allocation of military aid for Ukraine was made on December 27. At the end of October, Biden had already applied to the US Congress for a 105 billion US dollar (over 94 billion euros) aid package with support for Ukraine and Israel. More than 61 billion US dollars of this is earmarked for Ukraine, which has been attacked by Russia.
The USA is considered Ukraine's most important ally in the fight against the Russian invasion. Since the start of the war in February 2022, the US has provided or pledged military aid worth more than 44 billion US dollars to Kiev.
Russia reports Ukrainian attacks
Russia's Ministry of Defense reported in the evening that a Ukrainian attack on the western region of Bryansk had been repelled. Two missiles and three drones were intercepted by the air defense, it said. According to the authorities, there was no damage or casualties in the region, which is not far from Ukraine.
In addition, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, a drone attack on the Podolsk district was repelled. According to preliminary information, there were no casualties or damage. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, another drone was intercepted in the Leningrad region. The Soviet name Leningrad is still used in Russia for the area around St. Petersburg.
What will be important on Thursday
A two-day meeting of the NATO Military Committee ends this Thursday in Brussels against the backdrop of the fighting in Ukraine.
©Keystone/SDA
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